Brace and cross-bearer for freight cars



April 7, 1931. w. E. WINE I BRACE AND CROSS BEARER FOR FREIGHT CARS Fil ed March 21, 1929 Q INVENTOR:

Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. WINE,

F TOLEDO, OHIO BRACE AND CROSS-BEARER FOR FREIGHT CARS Application filed March 21,

My invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to bracing members for the side walls thereof and it has for its principal object the provision of improved'means for connecting or securing the bracing members to the cross bearers of the car. A primary feature of the invention consists in providing brace members for the sides of the car in combination with a cross bearer having plates disposed on opposite. sides of the center sill and connected by means extending transversely of the latter, the lower ends of the brace members being rigidly secured to the connecting means. 7 7

Another feature of the invention consists in providing brace members for the sides of the car in combination with a cross bearer having plates positioned on opposite sides of the car centersill and connected by a plurality of members, the lower ends of the braces being interposed between and rigidly connected to the connecting members.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing brace members for the side walls 5 of the car in combination with a cross bearer having plates disposed on opposite sides of the car center sill, the plates being connected by angle-shaped members secured to the top of the center sill and the lower ends of the braces being interposed between and rigidly connected to the members. j

Other and more specific features of the invention residing in advantageous forms, co nbinations and relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention 1* Figure 1 is a transverse 'verticaljsectional View of a railway hopper car, the bracesbeing shown in elevation. I r

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectio-nal view taken on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the lower central portion of the construction illustrated in Figure 1. a l

I Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 44, Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates the flanged beams ofithe center sill and 6 designates the side sills.

1929. Serial No. 348,861.

The side sheets of the car, designated by the reference .numeral 22, are secured to their lower edges to the side sills and at their upper edges to the side top rails 24. If desired, the top rails may be provided with reinforcing brackets 23. Overlapping the inner faces of the side sheets and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner are the side stakes 21 which may advantageously terminate immediately above the adjacent 69 side sills 6. V Disposed on opposite sides of the center sill are substantially vertical plates 3 and 4: which constitute the major portions of the cross bearer. At their lower edges these plates or sheets are connected by angleshaped reinforcing members 5 which extend beneath the center sill and preferably terminate adjacent the side sills. At their outer ends portions of the plates 3 and 4 are secured to inwardly projecting portions of the adjacent side stakes 21.

Diverging downwardly on opposite sides of the plates of the cross bearer are inclined transversely extending sheets 7 which constitute portions of the hoppers (not shown) of the car. Each of these sheets is formed with a substantially vertical flange 8 for attachment to the adjacent sheet or plate of the cross bearer. The inner and outer edges of the hopper sheets may, if desired, be secured to adjacent portions of the center sill and side sills.

To connect the upper portions of the inner ends of the plates 3 and 4 of the cross bearer and to rigidly connect them to the center sill, a plurality of angularly-shaped members 10 and 11 are employed. These members are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the plates 3 and 4. and each is preferably of angle-shape having a substantially horizontal flange 29 and a substantially vertical flange 30. The vertical flanges of the angle members overlappingly engage the outer faces of adjacent'portions of the vertical flanges 8 of the hopper sheets 7 while the horizontal flanges 29 rest upon and are secured to the top cover plate 2 of the center sill. By connecting the component parts of p the cross bearer to each other and to the ceni til ter sill in this manner it will be perceived that a very rigid construction is produced.

As the vertical flanges 30 of the angle members are spaced from adjoining portions of the plates 3 and 4: of the cross bearer a plurality of relatively small filler members are preferably interposed between adjoining portions of the sheets 3 and 4 and the angle members. The filler members between the angle member and the plates?) and 4 are respectively designated by reference numerals 12 and 13 while those between the angle member 11 and the sheets 3 and i are desig nated by the single reference numeral 14:.

Extending dowmvardly and inwardly from the upper portions of theside stakes 21 are the brace members 15 and 15 respectively. Although the braces may be of any suitable shape in cross section I prefer to make them of substantially rail shape havinga head 16, a web 1 and flange 18. At their upper ends each of the braces is formed with an elongated pad or foot 19 for attachment to the adjacent side stake by a plurality of rivets 20.

The lower portion of each of the braces is also formed with an enlarged pad orfoot portion which is interposed between the verti 'al flanges of the angle-shaped connecting members 10 and 11. The enlarged portion 25 is preferably disposed in the plane of the web of the brace and it may be conveniently rigidified by a flange 26 whielrmerges with the flange 18 of the brace. The enlarged portions 25 are formed with a'pl'urality of apertures or holes 27 for receiving rivets 28 to rigidly connect the braces to the cross bearer. Since the rivets '28 pass through both of the angle members 10 and 11 it will be perceived that they are in double shear. Thus a relatively few rivets may be employed to obtain a rigid connection between the brace and cross bearer.

The portions 25 of the braces are preferably as thick as the distance between the flanges 30 of the angle members so that they are, in fact, clamped between the latter. From the manner of connecting the braces and cross bearer it will be perceived that a very rigid construction is produced and that the side walls are effectively braced.

I claim V 1. In combination with a cross bearer,

clamping members on said cr'oss bearer, ex-

tending transversely of the center sill of the car, braces having their lower ends riveted between said clamping members, and the upper ends of the braces adapted to be riveted to the side stakes. p

In combination with a cross bearer for freight cars, clamping members centrally of said cross bearer, braces in the form of rails having their lower ends flattened and riveted "between said members, the upper ends of the braces being provided with feet adapted to be riveted to the side stakes ofthe car.

3. In combination with a cross bearer made up in part of two plates, clamping members connecting the two plates, filler plates between the said members and the plates of the cross bearer, and braces of substantially T-shape in cross section extending upwardly and outwardly from the cross bearer, the lower ends of the braces being flattened and riveted between the said members, and the upper ends of the braces being adapted to be fastened to the side stakes of the car.

4. In combination with a cross bearer formed of two plates, hopper sheets riveted to the two plates, clamping members riveted to the adj accnt ends of the said hopper sheets and plates, filler plates between the clamping members and the plate of the cross bearer, and braces of rail-shape in cross section having their lower ends flattened and rigidly secured between said clamping members, and the upper ends of the braces being adapted to be riveted to the side stakes of the car.

5. A brace for a freight car adapted to err tend from the cross bearer to the side stake, said brace being substantially of rail-shape comprising a head, web and flange; one end of the brace having an enlarged foot for attachment to the side stake and the other end of the brace being flattened for attachment to the cross bearer.

6. A brace for a freight car adapted to extend from a side stake to a cross member, said brace being a unitary castingcomprising a head, web and flange, the upper end of the brace having an elongated foot for attachment to the side stake, and the lower end of the brace having a flattened portion inthe plane of the said web for attachment to the cross bearer, said flattened portion and flange being eonnected'by a rigi-difying flange.

z. A brace for a freight car adapted to extend from a cross bearer to a side stake, the brace being in the form of a T-rail. the upper-end of the brace being provided with means adapted to be riveted to a side stake, and the lower end of the brace being flattened and having a rigidifying flange merging with the flange of the rail? 8. In a railway car having a center sill, the combination with side stakes, of a cross bearer having plates respectively disposed on opposite sides of the center sill, a plurality of members respectively eXten ding transversely of the center sill and rigidly connecting said plates one of said members being disposed on one side of said plates and the other of said members being disposed on the opposite side of said plates, and braces for the side stakes, the lower ends of said braces being interposed between and rigidly secured to said members.

9. Ina railway car'having'a center sill and side sills, the combination with side stakes, of a cross bearer involving a plurality of plates respectively extending from the center sill to the adjacent side sills, means for connecting said plates involving a plurality of members disposed above the center sill,

and braces secured to said stakes and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, the lower endsof said braces being interposed between and rigidly secured to said members.

10. In a railway car having a center sill, the combination with side stakes, of a cross bearer involving a plurality of plates respectively positioned on opposite sides of the center sill, a plurality of angularly shaped members disposed above the center sill and rigidly secured to the inner ends of said plates, each of said members having a substantially vertical portion overlappin the adjacent portions of said plates, and race members secured to said stakes and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, the lower ends of said braces being interposed between and rigidly secured to the said vertical portions of said, members.

11. In a railway car having a center sill and side sills, the combination with side stakes, of a cross bearer involving a plurality of plates respectively extending from the center sillto the adjacent side sills,means connecting said plates involving angle shaped members disposed on opposite sides of the latter, each of said members having a substantially horizontal flange secured to the top of the center sill and a substantially vertical flange overlappingly secured to adjacent portions of the plates, and braces secured to the side stakes and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, the lower ends of said braces being interposed between and rigidly iecured to the vertical flanges of said memers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

vWILLIAM E. WINE. 

